Devotion 221

“The Children of Israel Did Evil Again”

Reference: Judges Chapter 10

Evil is the absence of the Word of God. Without the Word of God, Israel was just like the other nations. They began to serve the gods of the surrounding nations because they have lost the Word.It’s the Word of God that separates people or nations.

When a man, woman or nation has the Word of God, they have light, God reigns. When a man, woman or nation has not the Word of God, they have no light, darkness (evil) reigns.

Israel in darkness.

Let’s read:

Judges 10:1-6 “And after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim. [2] And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir. [3] And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two years. [4] And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havoth–jair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead. [5] And Jair died, and was buried in Camon. [6] And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him.”

“They forsook the LORD.” They left His Word and His Way for idols. If we forsake the Word and Way of God, He likewise forsakes us.

Jesus Christ is the Word of God, the Cross of Christ is the Way of God. We walk this Way by simple faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work. That simply means believing that every life Jesus Christ lived was for you. His death was your death. You were crucified with Him. His resurrection was your resurrection. You are raised in a newness of life with Him. His ascension was your ascension. You are reigning in heavenly places together with Him. He has now returned in the form of the Holy Spirit to dwell in you. You are now one with Him. His thoughts are your thoughts. His ideas are your ideas. What He loves you love. What He hates you hate. You have become one with the Word. You have cast out every unbelief. You believe every Word. You don’t look to creeds, doctrines, and dogmas. You simply look to the Word.

We forsake Him when we look to anything else but the Word.

We continue our reading:

Judges 10:7 “And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon.”
The LORD will place us in the hands of the Enemy when we walk contrary to His Way. This is always to bring us back in line.

We continue our reading:

Judges 10:8-10 “And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel: eighteen years, all the children of Israel that were on the other side Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead. [9] Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed. [10] And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim.”

It was not a sin of ignorance. Like the First Adam, Israel knew exactly their sin. They chose not the Way of God, and God turned His back on them.

We continue our reading:

Judges 10:11-14 “And the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines? [12] The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand. [13] Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more. [14] Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.”

They cried to the LORD because they knew none of the gods could deliver them from their enemies.

Know that nothing can deliver you from the Enemy except your faith in the Word of God and the Way of God.

We conclude our reading:

Judges 10:15-18 “And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day. [16] And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel. [17] Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh. [18] And the people and princes of Gilead said one to another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

“We have sinned.”

Sin is simply a symptom of unbelief. They have not believed the Word of God. They have believed the words of their enemies and aligned with their gods.

“What man will begin to fight against the children of Ammon.”

The Church is asking the same question. What man will fight the Enemy?
God has given us the Man. His name is the Holy Spirit. If we will remove our unbelief, creed, and doctrines, the Holy Spirit will lead us to victory over victory.

If only we will believe the Word of God, and be led by the Holy Spirit, no enemy will thrive in our lives.

No enemy of sickness. No enemy of death.

No enemy of hell or the grave will even have a chance.

Let the Word of God keep you from the Enemy. BELIEVE and confess Christ the Word as we’ve revealed Him from the First Adam. Separate yourself by keeping His Word, in Christ!